Six Indian artists set to show at Bahrain’s International Art Fair, ArtBAB 2019

ArtBAB 2019 (Art Bahrain Across Borders), Bahrain’s foremost international art fair, is going to be organised from 6th to 10th March 2019.
Luminescence X, Shailan Parker
Luminescence X, Shailan Parker

ArtBAB 2019 (Art Bahrain Across Borders), Bahrain’s foremost international art fair, under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King of Bahrain, is going to be organised from 6th to 10th March 2019. Six artists from two galleries of India will be showcasing their artwork in this highly anticipated exhibition this year.

The theme of this fourth edition of the Middle East’s youngest and most promising art fair is ‘Legacies’ which will explore the nearly 50 year-old Bahraini contemporary art scene and its foundation in the Kingdom’s rich art heritage.

Art aficionados will be thrilled after visiting the fair this year as they will be taken beyond the canvases of the artists through the Virtual Reality Corner, the first of its kind in the region. This incredible Virtual Reality tour will allow exploration of some of the world’s leading private museums.

There will also be a diverse Speaker’s Programme, during the Fair, which will bring together art foundations, cultural districts and museums with fintech, blockchain, AI and VR specialists.

Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa, Director of the Office of Her Royal Highness Wife of the King of Bahrain said, “We are proud of the unique conversations that we have started about Bahraini art around the world – in 2018 alone, our supporting project Artists Across Borders has taken few Bahraini artists to Paris, Moscow, Singapore, India and the UK. In the 2019 edition of the Fair, we shall explore not just the heritage and legacies that inspire Bahraini contemporary art but also the new directions of art on the global stage. We shall also have a beautifully curated Artisanal Room featuring special installations and large masterpieces rooted in the traditional skills of Bahraini crafts heritage.”

<em>CH Gandhi, 41x57 inches</em>
CH Gandhi, 41x57 inches


Talking about the participation of Indian artists in ArtBAB 2019, Kaneka Subberwal, Fairs and Programme Director of ArtBAB 2019, said “Indian galleries and artists generally have prominent presence at the fair every year. This year also, I am delighted to announce that we have received confirmations from six Indian artists to take part. The art fair’s 2019 edition would be an exciting amalgam of Bahraini art and cutting-edge trends from the art industry.”

“Our Virtual Corner at ArtBAB 2019 will take the art experience beyond borders – the public will be able to have three different VR experiences using Vive Pro Headsets and literally ‘touch’ celebrated contemporary Chinese art collections, 17th century Dutch and Flemish masterpieces as well as millennial VR artwork”, added Kaneka.

Two artists from Cosmic Heart Gallery of Mumbai - Natasha Lalla and Shailan Parker, with a flair for contemporary, abstract art will be displaying their work at ArtBAB 2019. Painting for over two decades, Natasha Lalla has developed a distinct style of her own, which involves painting with her fingers.

The artist has never owned a paintbrush and makes use of vivid colours to create stunningly abstract pieces that unleash a host of creative and universal energies. Shailan Parker is a versatile photographer with over thirty years of experience in varied photography disciplines. He brings a keen understanding of design concepts and digital technology to his work.

His spontaneous expression results in conscious and remarkable abstract imagery of nature. These alluring works are a balance of skill, technique and art. Cosmic Heart Gallery established by Jalpa H Vithalani, is a platform for young artists and veterans in art, photography, printmaking and sculpture where every show is curated with empathy and meticulous attention to detail.

<em>Rohit Sharma, 14X 14 Inches, Water Colour on Paper</em>
Rohit Sharma, 14X 14 Inches, Water Colour on Paper


Four emerging contemporary artists from Seed Art Gallery (Delhi) will be showcasing their artwork at ArtBAB 2019. Each of these artists will bring together a synergistic mix of pop, quirky artworks that fit into a world platform of contemporary art whilst holding on to its cultural routes. 

Pratik Sharma’s work will offers a quirky perspective into an auto-mobile world. His forte lies in his ability to create high contrast. CH Gandhi’s work will be reflection of his perception in the realm of understanding the society. Farhad Hussain's colourful work will include drawings and watercolours besides paintings on canvas, and will feature day to day visual experiences of the middle class urban India. 

Rohit Sharma imbibes his empirical experiences of the roads of Delhi and brings out the various nuances of everyday life associated with the roads. His work will be the reflection of his intimacy with his city, his love of its various simple aspects from the roads, the cows, the old cars, inviting all of us to look at the obvious with a new understanding and sensibility. 

In its effort to decode the intersection between art, culture and technology, ArtBAB 2019 will also host an impressive array of speakers through a series of panel discussions, debates and interviews.

<em>Natasha Lalla, Horizon XXVI, 140cms x 104cms, Acrylic on Canvas</em>
Natasha Lalla, Horizon XXVI, 140cms x 104cms, Acrylic on Canvas


ArtBAB 2019 will also redefine Bahrain’s rich crafts heritage through a contemporary design exhibit. Visitors can view large modern installations of Bahraini crafts and explore contemporary Bahraini arts and crafts that will present Bahrain as a country which is open to modern thought, without losing the essence of its timeless traditions.

This ‘Artisans Across Borders’ initiative will open new creative channels, making the arts and crafts relevant in the new millennium. The project will be headlined by acclaimed Indian fashion designer JJ Valaya, who will work closely with the Bahraini craftspeople.

ArtBAB aims to reinforce Bahrain’s position in the Gulf as a regional arts hub, inspiring entrepreneurship, art education and local skills development. Strategic Partner of the event is Tamkeen, Bahrain’s change management agency which supports the building of human resources and the Kingdom’s industrial and knowledge growth management.

ArtBAB is the flagship project of Art Select, the international Bahrain-based art advisory, consultancy and curator of art events. The fourth edition of the annual art fair shall take place from March 6-10, 2019 at the Bahrain international Exhibitions and Convention Centre.

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